How many people are affected by the Delaware River?


How many people are affected by the Delaware River? Over 15 million people (roughly 5 percent of the nation's population) rely on the waters of the Delaware River Basin for drinking, agricultural and industrial use.


Is the Delaware River clean?

For its size, the Upper Delaware River contains some of the highest water quality in the eastern United States. The upper portion of the watershed remains largely forested. These forests act as a natural buffer against pollution and erosion by filtering water, which is very important for maintaining water quality.


Is the Delaware River still contaminated?

No contaminants from the Bristol Township spill have been detected in the Delaware River water: tap water continues to be safe. Residents should continue to use tap water as they normally would.


What happened to the Delaware River 2023?

On March 24, 2023, the Trinseo Altuglas chemical plant in Bristol, Pennsylvania in the United States had an equipment failure that resulted in a leak of between 8,100 and 12,000 gallons of butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and methyl methacrylate into Otter Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River.


Can you float down the Delaware River?

Enjoy a scenic, fun and refreshing 3 - 4 hour tube, raft, canoe or kayak ride down the Delaware River, which is the nation's most historic river and perfect for outdoor water sport activities.


What could cause the death of the Delaware River?

For much of the last century, parts of the Delaware River were a foul mess, full of sewage, chemical waste and other putrid byproducts of a rapidly urbanizing watershed. There were fish kills and disease outbreaks.


Who gets drinking water from Delaware River?

The Delaware River Basin provides water to two major U.S. cities: Philadelphia, Pa. and New York City. All of Philadelphia's water comes from the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, and roughly 50% of the water supply for New York City comes from the Delaware River Basin, even though NYC is not in the DRB.


Why is the Delaware River so famous?

However, the most famous fact about the Delaware River is the famous crossing of it by George Washington in 1776 which helped him successfully surprise Hessian troops in New Jersey during the American Revolution.


Is Delaware drinking water safe to drink?

As a result of our regular sampling and testing program, we are proud to report Newark meets or exceeds the water quality standards of the Delaware Division of Public Health Office of Drinking Water and the Environmental Protection Agency.